Goal: Stop allowing police to brutally kill thousands of people, especially during the spread of coronavirus.

State police in Brazil are carrying out brutal mass killings in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, despite social distancing restrictions and the threat of Covid-19. Police killed a record 1,810 people last year, almost five per day.

In the most recent operation, 13 people were shot and killed in the Complexo de Alemão favela. Residents reported that houses and walls were destroyed, water tanks exploded and the power network ravaged, leaving thousands without electricity. As part of his campaign, President Jair Bolsonaro pledged an all-out war against criminals, giving police a license to kill. He claimed that criminals should “die in the street like cockroaches.”

Many believe it is inhumane to allow these operations to continue during the threat of the coronavirus. Bruno Itan, a photographer from Complexo de Alemão, said “Instead of sending doctors and nurses to protect residents from Covid-19, the government sends police, bullet-proof vehicles and helicopters to kill us.” Sign below to demand President Bolsonaro stop encouraging mass killings and instead work to protect Brazil’s poorest residents from Covid-19.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear President Bolsonaro,

Encouraging mass killing operations, especially during the threat of Covid-19, is an incredibly inhumane and backwards way of dealing with crime. You should be exploring ways to prevent crime that does involve outright warfare, such as funding education, anti-violence and anti-drug campaigns in favelas.

I demand that you stop encouraging brutal mass killings of Brazilian citizens, especially during the threat of Covid-19.